It's one of the most common questions homeowners ask as the weather turns cold, and one of the most debated at the kitchen table. Set the thermostat too low and the house feels chilly. Set it too high and the heating bill climbs. So what's the right number?

The short answer is that there's a good starting point, but the best setting for your home depends on your household, your heating system, and your schedule. Here's how to find it, with tips for New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware homeowners.

The Short Answer: Start at 68°F

Carrier recommends starting at 68°F when you're home and awake, then adjusting up or down one or two degrees at a time until you find what's comfortable. That's also the setting most commonly recommended by energy experts, because every degree you heat above it uses more energy. Warm clothing, slippers, and blankets can make a slightly lower setting feel perfectly comfortable.

Lower It When You're Asleep or Away

The biggest savings come from not heating your home as hard when no one is using it. Carrier recommends lowering the heat at bedtime and when you leave the house. Citing guidance from the U.S. Department of Energy, Carrier notes that adjusting your thermostat by 7 to 10°F for eight hours a day can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling. That's a best-case figure, and your actual savings will depend on your home, your system, and the weather.

A practical winter schedule might look like this:

• Morning and evening, home and awake: around 68°F
• Overnight while sleeping: a few degrees lower, such as 62 to 65°F, if everyone is comfortable
• Workday, when no one's home: lower still, though not so low that it risks frozen pipes or a very long recovery

These are starting points rather than rules. Find what works for your household.

Who Might Need a Warmer Setting?

A lower setpoint isn't right for everyone. Carrier points to guidance from the World Health Organization that 18°C (about 64°F) is a safe, well-balanced temperature for the general population in cold seasons, and notes that vulnerable groups may need a higher minimum. If your household includes:

• Infants or young children
• Older adults
• People with chronic health conditions or mobility limits

...you may want to keep the house warmer than the general guidance, and talk with your doctor about what's right for you. Comfort and health come before savings.

Special Considerations for Heat Pumps

If you have a heat pump, be careful with big temperature setbacks. Carrier advises homeowners not to automatically apply a 7 to 10°F setback to a heat pump and instead to follow the setback recommendations for their specific system and thermostat.

Here's why it matters: when a heat pump has to climb a large temperature gap quickly, it may rely on backup electric heat, which can cost more to run than the savings from the setback. Smaller, gradual adjustments are generally a better fit. If you have a heat pump, ask your Carrier dealer how your system is set up and what schedule makes sense for your home.

What About New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware Winters?

Our region has a wide range of winter conditions, and they affect how you use your thermostat.

• Coastal New Jersey and Delaware: Winters are generally milder, but damp, windy conditions can make a home feel colder than the thermometer says. Drafts and air leaks matter here.
• Central New Jersey and the Philadelphia area: Cold snaps are common, and homes range from older rowhomes to newer construction with very different heat retention.
• Northern New Jersey, the Poconos, the Lehigh Valley, and western Pennsylvania: Longer, colder winters mean heating systems run more hours, and the savings from smart scheduling can add up.

In all three states, many older homes have drafty windows, limited insulation, or older ductwork. In those homes, the number on the thermostat isn't the whole story. If you set it to 68°F but some rooms still feel cold, the problem may be your home's envelope or duct system rather than the thermostat setting.

A word about extreme cold: During very cold stretches, avoid setting the thermostat dramatically lower while you're away. Keeping your home at a moderate temperature helps protect pipes from freezing, which is a real risk in the region during hard freezes. If you'll be away for an extended period, ask your dealer or plumber what minimum temperature is wise for your home.

Why "Set It and Forget It" Doesn't Have to Be Hard

Remembering to adjust the thermostat every morning and night isn't realistic for most people. That's where a programmable or smart thermostat helps. Programmable and Wi-Fi models can adjust temperatures automatically on your schedule, so the house is cooler while you sleep and warm again by the time you wake up.

Carrier's SmartThermostat Pro with voice control, available through certified Carrier dealers, includes a SmartSensor to help keep important rooms comfortable by adjusting based on occupancy and temperature. With a Wi-Fi connection, you can also control the system from your phone using the Carrier SmartHome App, which is handy if plans change and you're coming home early, or if you forgot to turn the heat down before a trip.

Professional installation matters too. Installation by a Carrier expert helps make sure the thermostat is configured to run your heating and cooling equipment properly.

Other Ways to Feel Warmer Without Raising the Thermostat

• Seal drafts around windows and doors with weatherstripping or caulk.
• Open curtains on sunny days and close them at night.
• Reverse your ceiling fans to run clockwise on low so they push warm air down.
• Replace your air filter so your system isn't working harder than it needs to.
• Manage humidity. Dry winter air can make rooms feel colder. Carrier's Ideal Humidity System™ is designed to help manage humidity levels for comfort.
• Schedule a fall or winter tune-up so your system is running efficiently when you need it most.
• Check your ductwork for leaks, especially in unheated attics, basements, and crawl spaces.

Is Your System Keeping Up?

If you've found a comfortable setting but your home still has cold spots, your system runs constantly, or your bills seem high, your equipment may not be the right size or may be reaching the end of its life. A variable-speed system like those in Carrier's Infinity® series adjusts its output to your home's needs, which can mean more even temperatures and quieter operation than older single-speed equipment.

Find Your Sweet Spot

There's no single perfect number for every household, but a good approach is simple: start around 68°F when you're home, lower it when you're asleep or away if it's safe and comfortable for everyone, take extra care with heat pumps and vulnerable family members, and let a smart thermostat handle the schedule for you.

At NoPay Carrier, we connect homeowners in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware with certified local Carrier® dealers who can help you with thermostats, tune-ups, and system upgrades. Find your local Carrier dealer today, or explore our 0% financing options to make your next comfort upgrade easier on your budget.

Source: Carrier, "What Temperature Should I Set My Thermostat?"